The Geography Blog focusing on all things geography: human, physical, technical, space, news, and geopolitics. Also known as Geographic Travels with Catholicgauze!
Written by a former National Geographic employee who also proudly served in Iraq and Afghanistan.

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Monday, February 26, 2007

James Cameron and Raiders of Jesus' Tomb

James Cameron, the man behind such blockbuster films like Alien, Titanic, and Terminator, has announced his involvement in a documentary which claims the discovery of the tomb of Jesus, Mary, Mary Magdalene, and the children of Jesus.

Now this find, if true, is ground shaking. Saint Paul said if the resurrection did not happen then Christianity is pointless. Islam believes in Jesus assent into heaven. So finding Jesus' tomb would damage or destroy about half the world's faith. But let us ignore that aspect and focus on the more scientific parts of the evidence.

The Jerusalem Post points out a few major flaws in the theory. The tomb is in Talpiot right outside of Jerusalem. Jesus was a Galilean, the Appalachia of its day (the city folk and rural Jews by Galilee tried to be as separate as possible), and had no ties to Jerusalem. There is no reason for him to have a tomb in city with no family ties to it. Secondly Jesus was not a rich man. Affording a tomb for himself, his family and extended family is not something the average carpenter could afford. Finally, while the tomb is for a "Jesus" and a few "Marys" one must remember that these names are as common as Maria and Jesús are today in Hispano countries. Think about how many Simons and Judases are in the Bible and you begin get the picture.

A weird claim by Cameron is that he is using DNA evidence to prove it is the tomb of Jesus of Nazareth. How? Is there the "God" Y Chromosome? All he can determine is if the people are related and that proves nothing. Hot Air has more on this.

So what is going on? It is simple. During the time of Lent religion is on the mind of many including the religious and non-religious. So now is the perfect time to cash in on causing religious controversy. National Geographic did this last year (same story too: an old find is given new life by hype). How things change how things stay the same.

Thank you anonymous. The findings do not necessariy debunk Christianity's main tenants. Anyway, before anyone jumps to conclusions, you have to check out the movie, and the OFFICIAL site: http://www.jesusfamilytomb.com

This certainly, if true, would destroy the faith. However, I am surprised already by how many Christians are accepting the so-called evidence that this tomb was that of the Biblical Jesus' family! There are many points of contention, not to mention that the case so far only works in a vacuum, and disintegrates when looked at among the vast amount of positive evidence for the Christian faith.

It's amazing to me how closed minded some people can be. What would be the big problem with a union between Jesus and Mary Magdalene? To me, that would make him more like the rest of us. I agree with Lili that the resurrection was more of a spiritual thing. And if so, going along with the theory as written in the "DaVinci Code" that Mary Magdalene fled while pregnant, why might she not want to bury Jesus' body herself? What if she simply chose a spot, either had the body buried or had it preserved, and then had it written somewhere that when she and her son died that they were to be buried there also? Kinda like the family plots that many people use today? I am not a scientist and I am not an expert in that time period or location, but I think sometimes people need to have common sense and also open their minds to possibilities!

faith is internal and has been instilled from a very early age. don't let science get in the way of that. just believe and pray and everything else will fall into place. if jesus were standing in the street trying to catch a ride. would you pick him up??? If I told you I spoke to jesus every day and he spoke back to me. would you think I was nuts ?? If I told you jesus wants you to give me 10 grand in small bills. Would you???

For this to be true that this man found Jesus and his wife? Mary Magdelene is saying that the Bible is a lie. God is not a liar. This is a sign so world you better get ready because the rapture is soon to take place. Christians rejoice because Jesus will soon return for His people. For those who actually believe that this man's findings then you may need to check on your Christianity.

I am avoiding the theological aspects (yet I don't think anyone could really doubt my devotion to faith). This is a perfect example of how science and geographic reasoning come together to disprove this hype.

The family had at least some burial matters handled by Joseph of Arimethea, so a relatively ritzy Jerusalem tomb wouldn't be odd -- but this is the same sort of bizarre faux-news we saw with the "skull of Jesus," &c &c.